Titans Let 19-Point Lead Evaporate at USF

San Francisco, Calif. -
Dommanic Ingerson scored 23 points and fueled San Francisco from a late 19-point deficit and the Dons went on to a 93-91 overtime victory Saturday night over Cal State Fullerton to capture the USF Invitational Championship.

Jamaal Brown was credited with 39 points for Fullerton, which would be a school single-game record, but everyone except the official scorer had him for 36 points and the box score will be checked against video tapes. The Titans fell to 4-2 while USF improved to 3-5.

Bobby Brown added 20 points - soon to be changed to 23 - for the Titans, who had a 74-55 lead with 7:30 to play. But USF outscored Fullerton 25-6, forging its first tie of the game at 80-80 when Armondo Surratt hit a 3-pointer with 7 seconds left.

Fullerton had two shots to win in regulation but Jermaine Harper missed a 3-point try and Jamaal Brown's follow shot bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

USF, which never led in regulation after falling behind 9-0 at the outset, got two free throws from Jason Wallace-Carter and then back-to-back treys from Ingerson to forge an 88-82 lead. Fullerton got as close as 88-85 and then the final margin when Bobby Brown hit a 40-footer at the buzzer.

"What really hurt us was our fouls," said Coach Bob Burton. "We're having a problem finding another inside guy. Justin Burns fouling out was huge. We had to play Frank Robinson at the four and that hurt us on the boards at the end. He's been playing the three spot and doesn't know all of the offense at the four.

"USF stepped up and made some great shots. Surratt was the catalyst and Ingerson was phenomenal."

USF made 13 of 25 3-point field goals despite a 3-for-9 effort in the first half. Fullerton was almost as hot hitting 11 of 23.

Jamaal Brown, who topped his previous career high of 30 points the night before in a win over Chicago State, shared the team rebounding lead with Frank Robinson with 8 each.
Freshman Jesse Byrd came off the bench for 12 points and 10 rebounds to spark the Dons, who had five players in double figures.

Fullerton was hurt by the loss to personal fouls on starting forward Justin Burns and his backup, Gary Nunez. The Titans played most of the game with the 6-foot-4 Robinson at power forward next to the 6-foot-7 Jamaal Brown. Burn's fifth foul was particularly painful as it came on a charge with 3:30 to play and the Titans nursing a 76-70 advantage. Nunez got four of his fouls in the first half.

Fullerton had a 13-point lead at the half which USF quickly reduced to 6 with a 7-0 run. But the Titans answered with a 13-5 burst to put the margin back up to 15 points.

Jamaal Brown hit 16 of 27 shots including 4-of-4 3-pointers in the scorebook, which will likely be reduced to 3-of-3.

Fullerton takes next week off for finals before returning to the Bay Area to play at San Jose State on Nov. 21.